Monica found more attraction in books as her life grew more unhappy.

Though with reluctance Widdowson had consented to a subscription at Mudie's, and from the new catalogues she either chose for herself, necessarily at random, or by the advice of better-read people, such as she met at Mrs.Cosgrove's.

What modern teaching was to be got from these volumes her mind readily absorbed.
She sought for opinions and arguments which were congenial to her mood of discontent, all but of revolt.
Sometimes the perusal of a love-story embittered her lot to the last point of endurance.

Before marriage, her love-ideal had been very vague, elusive; it found scarcely more than negative expression, as a shrinking from the vulgar or gross desires of her companions in the shop.

Now that she had a clearer understanding of her own nature, the type of man correspondent to her natural sympathies also became clear.
In every particular he was unlike her husband.